26 June 2024 , 19:15
1182
0
Criminals are allegedly partaking in "illegal" boxing matches on a bandstand in a park popular with children.
The sparring is said to be happening in Western Park in Dane Hills, Leicester, and being posted on YouTube. Residents in the city have shared their concerns about the activity, particularly with the school holidays looming. "Dangerous criminals have been hosting illegal fights in Leicester’s Western Park. This is a huge safety concern.
"You have people fighting when there are children playing in the park. You can see the bandits covered up in balaclavas in some of the videos and there is an extreme use of violence shown in these videos," a resident said. The council, controlled by the Labour Party, says it is in contact with Leicestershire Police. It also stressed park wardens will frequently check the area, which is in a suburb in the west of Leicester.
Western Park in Leicester is a popular with families and children (Leicester Mercury)Western Park was purchased for development as a park in 1897 and offers 72 acres to explore, Leicestershire Live reports. There is an avenue of trees on the main drive at the park, which boasts play areas, bowls greens, tennis courts and ample parking. A spokesperson for Leicester City Council said: "Anti-social behaviour is conduct that is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress so it is likely that this behaviour fits that description.
"We will alert the local police beat team and, if we can identify those involved and they live locally, we can work with the police to warn them not to carry out such activities in the area and offer advice on safer and more suitable ways of getting involved in sport and physical activity. Our park wardens will check the area on their site visits. We don’t condone this sort of activity and would ask that anyone witnessing behaviour like this reports it at www.leics.police.uk."
Gangsters ‘call for ceasefire’ after deadly Christmas Eve pub shooting